Top-spinner



(NoModeU, p JOHNSON- TOP SPINNBR- No. 404,042. Patented May 28, 1889.

N, PETERS, Phntn-Lilhogvapher, \Vashinghm D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICKL. JOHNSON, OF W'ALLINGFORD, CONNECTICUT.

TOP-SPINNER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 404,042, dated May 28, 1889.

Application filed November 23, 1888. Serial No. 291,632. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be itknown that I, FREDERICK L. J OHN- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at lVallingford, in the county of New Haven and State of Oonnecticut,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Top- Spinners; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to toys which are designed to receive awhirling motionsuch as topsand has for its object to provide means for supporting the top and propelling the same.

The improvement consists of the novel features, which will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side view showing the application of my invention; Fig. 2, a perspective view of the holder; and Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the front portion of the holder, the upper limb being removed, showing the ap plication of the invention.

The holder has two arms, A and B, which are provided with the jaws a and b, to receive the stem of the top or other toy, O. The spring or elastic D is fastened to the holder at any convenient point, as on the projection d. The stop F, arranged to engage with the top and hold it against backward rotation, is operated by the trigger G, and is preferably yielding to automatically engage with the top, being connected with the trigger by the spring f. The stop F, the spring f, and the trigger are formed preferably of a single piece of wire, the wire being coiled about the arm B of the holder, which forms a guide for the same and guides the stop in its movements. ,The inner end of the wire is fastened to the holder in any desired manner. The projection d is preferably a closed loop, which is best adapted to receive and retain the elastic D, and is an integral part of the wire which forms the holder. The arms A and B are curved down and united at their rear ends to form the handle H, and their front ends are bent, as shown, to form the jaws a and b. The holder, comprising the jaws a and b, armsA and B, projection d, and handle H, is composed of a single wire.

The operation of the device is as follows: The top 0 is placed so that its shank m fits in the jaws a and 1). Then the elastic is fitted to and wrapped about the shank m until it is drawn sufficiently taut. The stop F, engaging with the top by entering a notch, 01, formed in its side, holds the top from turning back until it is released. To spin the top, grasp the holder in the hand and press on the trigger with the forefinger. The unwinding of the elastic or the contracting of the spring will cause the top to revolve. \Vhen the elastic is unwound, the top will fall from the holder and continue to spin, as will be readily understood.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. In a top-spinner, the combination, with the holder comprising the two jaws a, and b and the elastic secured at one end to the holder and adapted to have its other end wound around the shank of the top between the said two jaws, of the stop, the trigger, and the spring extended between and connecting the stop with the trigger, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination,with theholder having jaws, as a and b, to receive the shank of the top, of the elastic, as D, secured at one end to the holder and adapted to have its other end wound on the shank of the top between the two jaws, whereby when the top is released the reaction of the said elastic will spin the same, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the holder having approximately parallel arms and having jaws at the ends of the arms, the elastic D, adapted to be Wound on said shank between the said jaws secured at one end to a projection of one of the arms, and the spring f, mounted on the other arm, the stop F at one end of the spring and the trigger G at the other end, substantially as specified.

4:. The herein shown and described top holder and spinner, composed of asingle Wire bent to form the arms A and B; the jaws a and b, the handle H, and the projection d, the

5 Wire bent to form the stop F, the spring f, and the trigger G, and mounted on the arm B, and the elastic D, secured to the projection (2, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of. twowitnesses.

FREDERICK L. JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

W. J. MoRsE, HERBERT E. VAIL. 

